Lawmakers against renewing lease of resorts in CNP

Constituent Assembly members have strongly objected to the practice of granting lease contract to operate resorts inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP) without inviting tender.

“What is the reason behind the practice of awarding contract without open competition?” questioned lawmaker Rabindra Adhikari. He also demanded with the government to recover the dues that the resorts owe to the government at the earliest.

The Public Accounts Committee of the legislature-parliament had summoned Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohora and secretary Uday Raj Sharma to seek clarification in disputes surrounding the closure of jungle resorts.

The resorts owe Rs 19.2 million as revenue and conservation charges to the government.

Secretary Sharma said extending lease contract without bidding is against the existing National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 1972, its regulation 1973 and Buffer Zone Act 1998.

The CNP administration directed the resorts to cease their operation after their lease contract expired on July 15.